Craving something chocolatey but looking for a snack that’s a little more satisfying than a candy bar? These No-Bake Cottage Cheese Brownie Balls are an easy chocolate treat made with cottage cheese, peanut butter, almond flour, cocoa powder, and a little maple syrup. They’re finished with a light coating of dark chocolate for an extra chocolatey bite.
Each brownie ball has approximately 190 calories and 6 grams of protein, making these a great option when you want something sweet without having to make an entire batch of brownies.
Why You’ll Love These Cottage Cheese Brownie Balls
These little brownie bites have quickly become one of my favorite ways to satisfy a chocolate craving.
They’re:
- No-bake — no need to turn on the oven.
- Easy to make — just mix, shape, chill, and coat.
- Chocolatey and satisfying — cocoa powder and dark chocolate give them plenty of chocolate flavor.
- Made with cottage cheese — an easy way to add protein to a sweet treat.
- Perfectly portioned — this recipe makes 12 brownie balls.
- Great for meal prep — keep them refrigerated or frozen so you have a sweet snack ready when a craving hits.
I especially like having these on hand when I’m craving chocolate but want something with a little more staying power than a piece of candy.
Ingredients
For the brownie balls
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 cup almond flour
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
For the chocolate coating
- Approximately ½ cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Optional
- Flaky sea salt for sprinkling
Helpful Tools
Here are a few kitchen tools that can make these Cottage Cheese Brownie Balls easier to prepare:
- Mixing bowl – Great for combining all of the brownie ball ingredients.
- Food processor or blender – Helpful if you prefer a smoother texture and want to blend the cottage cheese before mixing.
- Small cookie scoop – Makes it easier to divide the mixture into 12 evenly sized brownie balls.
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat – Keeps the brownie balls from sticking while you’re working with them or letting the chocolate coating set.
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How to Make Cottage Cheese Brownie Balls
1. Mix the wet ingredients
Add the cottage cheese, peanut butter, vanilla extract, and maple syrup to a mixing bowl.
Stir until well combined.
For an especially smooth brownie-ball texture, you can blend the cottage cheese first before mixing it with the other ingredients.
2. Add the dry ingredients
Add the almond flour and cocoa powder to the cottage cheese mixture.
Stir until everything is thoroughly combined and you have a thick, chocolatey dough.
If the mixture seems a little soft, let it chill for a few minutes before shaping.
3. Chill the mixture
Place the mixture in the freezer for about 10 minutes.
This makes the mixture easier to handle and shape.
4. Form the brownie balls
Remove the mixture from the freezer and divide it into 12 portions.
Roll each portion between your hands to form a ball.
Place the brownie balls on a parchment-lined plate or small baking sheet.
Amazon affiliate recommendation: A reusable silicone baking mat or parchment paper can be linked naturally here if you use one in your kitchen. Use your own Amazon tagged link rather than a generic Amazon search link.
5. Make the chocolate coating
Melt the dark chocolate chips with the coconut oil until smooth.
You can melt them carefully in the microwave in short intervals, stirring between each interval, or use a double boiler.
6. Coat the brownie balls
Dip or drizzle each brownie ball with a light coating of melted dark chocolate.
You don’t need a thick layer. A thin coating gives each brownie ball a nice chocolate shell without overpowering the brownie mixture underneath.
If desired, sprinkle a tiny amount of flaky sea salt over the chocolate before it sets.
7. Chill
Place the coated brownie balls in the refrigerator until the chocolate has set.
Store them refrigerated until ready to eat.
How to Store Cottage Cheese Brownie Balls
Store the brownie balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
They can also be frozen for longer storage. If freezing, place parchment paper between layers so the chocolate coating doesn’t stick together.
I like keeping them individually portioned so they’re easy to grab when I want something sweet.
How Many Brownie Balls Does This Recipe Make?
This recipe makes 12 cottage cheese brownie balls.
I intentionally made mine into 12 portions rather than making them very small. That gives each one a satisfying size while still making it easy to keep track of portions.
Cottage Cheese Brownie Ball Nutrition
The nutrition will vary depending on the brands of ingredients you use and exactly how much chocolate coating you use.
Using the brands and quantities I used, and estimating approximately ½ cup of dark chocolate chips for the coating, each brownie ball contains approximately:
| Nutrition | Per Brownie Ball |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~190 |
| Protein | ~6 g |
| Carbohydrates | ~13 g |
| Fat | ~13 g |
Note: I did not use the entire chocolate-and-coconut-oil coating mixture. Because some of the coating remained after the brownie balls were dipped, the actual calories and fat per brownie ball are likely somewhat lower than this estimate. I prefer to use the higher estimate when tracking the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cottage cheese brownie balls taste like cottage cheese?
Not really! The cocoa powder, peanut butter, vanilla, maple syrup, and dark chocolate give these brownie balls a primarily chocolate and peanut butter flavor.
Do I have to blend the cottage cheese?
No. You can mix everything together as written. However, blending the cottage cheese first will give you a smoother texture if you’re sensitive to the texture of cottage cheese.
Can I use a different nut butter?
Yes. You can substitute almond butter or another nut butter if you’d prefer.
Keep in mind that changing the nut butter will change the nutrition information.
Can I leave off the chocolate coating?
Absolutely. The brownie balls are still delicious without the chocolate coating.
However, if you’re making these specifically to satisfy a chocolate craving, I recommend keeping at least a light coating of dark chocolate. That’s one of my favorite parts!
Can I freeze cottage cheese brownie balls?
Yes. Place them in an airtight freezer-safe container and separate layers with parchment paper.
Allow them to thaw in the refrigerator before eating.
More Chocolate Recipes to Try
If you’re looking for more chocolate treats that are easy to make at home, check out these recipes:
- Greek Yogurt Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse
- Chocolate Protein Muffins
- Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- No-Bake Chocolate Energy Bites
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bites
Estimated nutrition per brownie ball: 190 calories, 6g protein, 13g carbohydrates, 13g fat.
Nutrition disclaimer: Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the specific brands and quantities of ingredients used.
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